A leaking tap has the potential to waste thousands of litres of water a year, but fear not! Mr. Nice can fix any leaking tap or mixer cartridge. We won't just replace the washer, we’ll replace all the perishable components, reseat the base and lubricate the spindle. We thrive on making your tapware work as good as new. Or, if you want new taps or mixers installed, we can do that too!

 

 

 A Mr. Nice Guide

A dripping tap may sound like nothing more than a midnight annoyance, but left unattended it can waste thousands of litres of water each year. The three main types of taps are jumper valve, ceramic disc, and mixer. While they all perform the same role, the way we repair them differs in time, cost, and materials.

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Jumper Valve Taps

The most common—and arguably the most straightforward—tap style in Australian homes.

How they work:
A jumper valve tap relies on three small but important components that can perish over time:

• The jumper valve – controls water flow (the on/off action, or as we say: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey).

• The fibre gasket – provides a watertight seal between the spindle (tap body) and the housing.

• The o-ring – ensures the spindle itself stays watertight.

Servicing
When we service a jumper valve tap, we replace all three components.

The brass seat
Inside the housing lies a brass seat where the jumper valve seals. Over time, flowing water can wear a groove into this surface—a process known as pitting. Think of it as the Grand Canyon carved in miniature: less awe-inspiring, but far more irritating when you’re trying to sleep.

If the seat is pitted, just swapping the jumper won’t help. The seat needs to be ground back flat to restore a proper seal and a drip-free finish.

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Ceramic Disc Taps

Modern, stylish, and often longer-lasting—but not without their quirks.

How they work
Ceramic disc taps use two polished ceramic discs with tiny matching holes. When you turn the handle, the discs align to let water through or misalign to stop the flow.

Why they leak
Leaks usually occur when the discs wear out, or when grit in the water supply scratches them. Unlike jumper valves, you can’t just swap a washer—you generally need to replace the cartridge that houses the discs.

Servicing
Ceramic discs tend to last longer than jumper valves, but when they fail, the replacement spindle is more costly. The good news is that once the spindle is replaced, they stay drip-free for years to come.

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Mixer Taps

The all-in-one favourite of kitchens and bathrooms, where hot and cold water blend into one convenient stream.

How they work
Mixer taps rely on a single lever and a cartridge inside that regulates both flow and temperature.

Why they leak
A leaking mixer usually points to a worn cartridge or, in some cases, degraded o-rings inside the body. Because mixers are compact and highly engineered, repairs are less about replacing washers and more about replacing the cartridge itself.

Servicing
Replacing a mixer cartridge restores proper control and seals the leaks. While more expensive than jumper valve repairs, mixer tap servicing is still far cheaper than letting water waste away—and far less annoying than the endless drip-drip-drip.

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The Mr. Nice Difference

Whether your tap is a humble jumper valve, a sleek ceramic disc, or a modern mixer, the principle is the same: find the fault, fix it properly, and leave it working as it should—tidy, polite, and drip-free.